TUFF 2015

It’s that time of year, film festivals are springing up as the leaves begin to turn and fall…

Toronto is rife with film festivals, and there seems to be one, or more, for everyone’s taste. I can rattle off three or four that I simply love. But let’s face it, getting to all of them can be a little pricey. Don’t worry! Because TUFF, the Toronto Urban Film Festival is back, and all it costs you is your transit fare. Screening at over 290 screens at subway platforms all over the city, the film festival runs from September 12th to the 20th, and as most of these silent films have a run time of about a minute, they’re perfect to watch while you wait for that train to take you to work (ugh) or home (YAY!).

Featuring 63 different films from 43 different countries, there are tales to amaze, make you think, dream and hope as the filmmakers give you a much-needed break from the every day.

And, if you decide you need more, you can watch that day’s complete program at the St. Andrew’s subway station, where it will be presented in 15 minute cycles. If you still clamour for more, you can head over to the Atrium at the Toronto Reference Library at Yonge and Bloor, where the entire 75 minute programme will be screened on continuous loop or head over to the Drake Hotel, and check out their Screening Room, Room 222 for the whole show as well. Admission to both areas is free.

This is a great way to see some of the amazing work not just of our fellow Canadians, but of our fellow citizens of the world.

But wait, there’s more!

Wandering through Yonge & Dundas Square? Check out the Pattison video screen just a bit north, where TUFF’s Above Ground programme where they will be screening 8 second videos from Toronto-based Timeanddesire, entitled If It Is What It Isn’t. And hey, there’s even stuff to watch while you shop, as TUFF presents Local Stories, screening seven different shorts across 43 shopping malls across all of Canada!

The TUFF films will be judged by Canadian filmmaker Patricia Rozema, who is premiering her new film, Into the Forest at TIFF this year.

So, there will be lots to see, and a number of convenient places to see them, so if you’re on the TTC, make sure you spare yourself a minute to take in one of the plethora of films, including those of Sharon Switzer, who has an artist spotlight on the 18th of this month.

Make sure you check out the festival’s Facebook page, here, and follow them on Twitter @tuffest !

This is Toronto, there is film and stories everywhere, just open your eyes and see.